I have a fairly deep knowledge of AF history--especially as it relates to it's US Army heritage. Having worked with the USAF recently, it seems to me that the USAF is inordinately "rank-heavy" for it's numbers and mission.
I may be completely wrong, but my understanding of the ORIGINAL USAF mid-level rank/organizational structure was the following:
Wing - analogous to an Army Brigade and commanded by a Colonel (O6)
Group - analogous to an Army Battalion and commanded by a Lt. Col (O5)
Squadron - analogous to an Army Company and commanded by a Captain (O3)
The current rank/structure seems to be:
Wing - commanded by a Brigadier General (O7)
Group - commanded by a Colonel (O6)
Squadron - commanded by a Lt. Col (O5)
From my reading about Viet Nam, my memory is that USAF Wings were still commanded by Colonels (O6).
Question: When did the current situation come into "fashion" and was it just a case of "rank-creep", or something that was actually needed?
I may be completely wrong, but my understanding of the ORIGINAL USAF mid-level rank/organizational structure was the following:
Wing - analogous to an Army Brigade and commanded by a Colonel (O6)
Group - analogous to an Army Battalion and commanded by a Lt. Col (O5)
Squadron - analogous to an Army Company and commanded by a Captain (O3)
The current rank/structure seems to be:
Wing - commanded by a Brigadier General (O7)
Group - commanded by a Colonel (O6)
Squadron - commanded by a Lt. Col (O5)
From my reading about Viet Nam, my memory is that USAF Wings were still commanded by Colonels (O6).
Question: When did the current situation come into "fashion" and was it just a case of "rank-creep", or something that was actually needed?